502 Dr. A. L. Thomson : Results of a Studij of [This, 



the places where they were marked, and as the percentage is 

 very high, in some instances over fifty, it is evident that the 

 native birds are resident and stationary in high degree, there 

 being no evidence ot* even local movements. 



The two exceptions are o£ peculiar interest, for in each 

 case the bird was found in a totally different summer area. 

 This fact is difficult to explain in view of the normal seden- 

 tary habit of our native birds as shown by the great majority 

 of the records, and it accordingly seems likely that these 

 cases are abnormal. A not improbable explanation would 

 be that the birds became attached to a company of winter 

 visitors of the species and were so led to perform a spring 

 migration to a new breeding area across the North Sea. 

 Witherby (26) has a similar record, an Essex bred bird 

 having been reported from West Prussia in its second 

 summer, and the Sheld-duck (c/. Section X.) has also 

 afforded instances of a like nature. Witherby has only one 

 other record of a native Mallard which shows any migratory 

 movement, as against fifty-three wild and twenty-six hand- 

 reared birds recovered at home ; but of eight birds marked 

 in Wigtonshirc in winter, one was reported in \Yinter from 

 the north of Ireland and seven in summer or late autumn 

 from Finland and Sweden. 



VII.— THE STARLING {Stimms vulgaris Linu.) : 

 ANALYSIS OF RECORDS. 



The movements of the Starling in the British area, as 

 studied by other methods, have already been fully worked 

 out (rf. Eagle Clarke, Report Brit. Assoc, 1903, p. 291). 

 Although found all tlie year round it is known, both as an 

 autumn innnigrant from north-western and from western 

 and central Europe, and as an emigrant to the south at the 

 same season: late " weather movements^' in severe winters 

 also occur, including renewed emigration. The corre- 

 sponding I'everse movements may be observed in spring. 

 The first problem is accordingly once more the separation 



